Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras
Supportive Walker with Integrated Seating Mechanism
Categories for this Invention
Technology: Supportive walker Device;
Industry: Assistive device;
Application: Assistive Device;
Market: The global walking aids market is projected to reach $3.95B by 2029, at a CAGR of 7.6% during (2023-2029)
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Problem Statement
- Generally, the differently abled person need extra support to walk independently.
- In this instant, walker has a huge potential to become a self supportive device to move independently, some examples like wheel chair or other walker.
- The conventional walker is not comfortable, as it having issues related to less walking modes, not comfortable for long run usage, & other seat related issues.
- Hence, there is a need to address above issues in efficient manner.
- Present invention provides a walker which addressed above challenges.
Technology
- Present invention describes a walker with extra support system for the user.
- Said walker of the instant invention comprises of head support, two-part seating means, saddle seat support & back support to support the trunk as shown in the FIG. 1.
- Further, the back support is mounted on a four bar parallelogram mechanism which ensures the backrest remains at the same orientation as the user moves from standing to sitting position.
- The actuation for sitting could be done by the user.
- The links of the mechanism are designed such that they toggle in the sitting position, providing a lock to the mechanism in the sitting position.
- The walker has an extra support system with a few supports which is illustrated in below smart chart & figures:
Key Features / Value Proposition
Technical Perspective & Industrial Perspective:
Four-bar linkage parallelogram mechanism:
- Present invention facilitates a four-bar linkage parallelogram mechanism which enables automatic actuation of the seat to move upwards and downwards as the user gets into sitting position from standing position and vice versa.
Movable backrest & head support:
- Provides movable backrest & head support wherein the backrest moves up & down according to the position or movement of the user.
Balancing the weights:
- Facilitates a gas spring connected to the four-bar parallelogram mechanism which helps in balancing the weights of different user.
Locking Facility:
- Enables Lockable & moveable two-part seating means.
Economic, user-friendly device & provides single solution:
- Beneficial to the user of a walking device, standing frame & a sitting device coupled into a single solution.
Questions about this Technology?
Contact For Licensing
sm-marketing@imail.iitm.ac.in
ipoffice2@iitm.ac.in
Research Lab
Prof. Sujatha Srinivasan
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Intellectual Property
IITM IDF Ref. 1691
Patent No:410191
Technology Readiness Level
TRL-3
Proof of concept tested in Lab